Skip to main content

Animal enrichment

penguin visits with a harbor seal

The Oregon Zoo enriches animals' lives through stimulating and challenging environments, objects, and activities

It was here in the 1980's that the concept of environmental enrichment was established. The first international animal enrichment conference was held at the Oregon Zoo in 1993. It lead to the establishment of a bi-annual International Conference on Environmental Enrichment.

Today, animal care staff are innovating enrichment techniques throughout the zoo. Explore a few examples: